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West Chester-area dog-fighting ring busted

By MICHAEL N. PRICE

mprice@journalregister.com

Updated:
12/13/2012 06:39:04 AM EST

WEST CHESTER — Law enforcement officials gathered Wednesday to announce the arrests of a husband and wife accused of running a dog-fighting ring out of their home in the 1300 block of Manor Road in West Brandywine.

Shane Santiago and Laura Acampora, both 33, are accused of operating a dog-fighting business that led to the deaths of at least 10 dogs and the maiming of countless more, according to Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan. Six living dogs were recovered from the home and are currently under the care of the SPCA.

“That residence was a house of pain and horror for the dogs that lived there,” Hogan said. “The defendants' dogs lived by one rule: Fight and win, or die.”

Hogan said five young children also lived in the home, one of whom was eventually bitten by one of the tortured dogs. That animal was then hung with a coaxial cable in retaliation, Hogan said.

Investigators began probing the county for dog-fighting activity after two pit bulls were found, one maimed and one burned, along the sides of area roads. Radar, who was found badly mauled in February and left for dead in a roadside ravine, is currently recovering under the care of the Chester County SPCA. Another pit bull was found dead, caged and burned, along Route 82 in West Brandywine in September.

Hogan announced for the first time Wednesday an investigation revealed that dog was burned alive after it was used in dog fighting.

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The juvenile pit bull was found just miles from, and on the same road, as Santiago's residence.

“We knew that somewhere in western Chester County a dog-fighting ring was going on,” Hogan said.

Officials said Santiago was first identified as a suspect when he was arrested on drug charges as part of Operation Silent Night, a coordinated operation aimed at curbing violent crime in Coatesville. During the probe of Santiago, investigators learned neighbors had been complaining about activity on the property where he lived. Large numbers of people were coming and going from the property, many were from out of state and they all appeared to have dogs with them, officials said Wednesday.

Investigators worked to gather evidence that could implicate Santiago and his wife in the act of dog fighting, Hogan said. They observed the home from the air and examined trash put out for collection, but it became clear the couple was aware they may have been under watch.

But then investigators caught a break. It was learned that Santiago and Acampora were facing eviction, and the property's owners gave authorities permission to enter the property in search of signs of the brutal blood sport.

“When we got into that home, what we found was a nightmare,” Hogan said. “This was a full-scale operation of not only dog fighting, but dog training, dog breeding and dog killing.”

Investigators learned that up to 16 pit bulls were kept in the home at one time. They discovered a full-scale training operation, including a treadmill and other tools used to encourage the dogs' aggression.

An “arena” was discovered in the home's basement. Plywood barriers were set up around the fighting area, and blood spattered the walls and floor.

“The carpet was covered in the blood of the dogs that fought there,” Hogan said.

Santiago and Acampora are charged with more than 30 counts of animal cruelty, endangering the welfare of a child, and conspiracy to commit animal cruelty. Both are being held in Chester County Prison.

“For the dogs that were held by this defendant, the nightmare is over,” Hogan said. “They are either dead or we have rescued them. But for tens of thousands of dogs across the United States, the nightmare continues. They are still being used for dog fighting.”

Officials said they hope the arrests will shed light on additional dog fighting activity in the area. The investigation remains open and officials hope for additional arrests, Hogan said. “We are calling on law enforcement, legislators, and the citizens of both Pennsylvania and the United States to stamp out this barbaric sport,” Hogan said.